"Magic Camp" draws nearly 100 participants

Friday

Jul 21, 2017 at 6:00 AM

Rick Fisher is please with the response to "Magic Camp" 2017.

By Jef Rietsma | Journal correspondent

Eleven-year-old Nick Gouveia was supposed to be at soccer camp this week.Instead, he found himself in Colon with his grandfather at Magic Camp. The two-day, hands-on program is in its third year and organized by Rick Fisher of FAB Magic.Gouveia, who lives in East Lansing, said he has no regrets about missing soccer camp and is glad his grandpa was persistent in his attending Magic Camp. “I’ve been interested in magic for a while now, it was just too bad soccer camp and magic camp had to happen during the same week,” he said. “But, grandpa really wanted to bring me here and I am learning some new tricks, so I’m glad about that.”Fisher said he couldn’t be happier with the public’s interest in “Magic Camp” 2017.“I had four more people register at 11 o’clock (Tuesday night), so it was literally up to the last minute that people wanted in,” he said.From opening day on Wednesday to Thursday’s finale, about 100 people were part of this year’s program. For the first time, it took place at New Life Assembly of God, a venue offering adequate space for the participants.Sessions are open to people of all ages. Though young people outnumbered adults Wednesday, Fisher said the day’s session featured an impressive number of adults.The forum allows participants to learn new tricks and perfect what they may have been working on in advance of the gathering. Fisher said it is a great place and occasion to make mistakes.“You don’t become an expert in one day, so we’re all about letting people make their mistakes and then perfect their tricks … the last thing we’ll do here is hurt your self-esteem,” Fisher said. “I’ve got to give these kids credit because when I was their age, there’s no way in the world I’d get up in front of anyone and perform.”Participants paid $40 a session which included a number of props and tricks they can keep. They also had the opportunity to perform a trick in front of their peers.South Bend residents Eliahu Lyandres, 13, and 12-year-old Charles Beutter, said they found out about the camp after a co-worker with Lyandres’ mother mentioned Colon’s claim as “Magic Capital of the World.” A few Internet searches later, Magic Camp appeared and the two were on their way to the other St. Joseph County for two days.“We do a few tricks for our friends at school, so it’ll be fun to learn some new ones,” Lyandres said.Leonidas resident Jason Noga, who turns 37 today, did both days of Magic Camp with his 8-year-old son, Noah. Noga said they appreciate the opportunity to learn simple but amusing magic tricks in an environment without pressure. Noga said he looks forward to baffling his wife and Noah is excited to impress his younger sister. Fisher already has scheduled dates for next year’s “Magic Camp,” July 18-19, 2018.